Game device having push-pull cue for holding plurality of playing pieces

ABSTRACT

Primarily for use by rival youngsters, a recreational and amusement game comprising a game board for indoor or outdoor use having a self-standing flat bottom and a flat top providing a smooth playing surface. The game board is marginally encompassed by a securely fixed rim having portions rising above the playing surface and designed to provide the outer bounds of the playing surface and resembling the disc sliding surface of a shuffle board. The rim embodies transverse end walls and interconnecting longitudinal side walls. A median area of the playing surface is provided with circular target zones, preferably shallow pockets. One set of playing pieces for a player operating from one transverse end comprises four colored marbles. A second but differently colored set of playing pieces or marbles constitutes the set for the competitive player at the other transverse end. Each player has a push-pull cue having a handle provided at the forward end with a fork having a straight across bight portion with legs extending therefrom which constitutes a shuffle cue head for simultaneously grouping and pushing the marbles for scattering in a direction toward the opposite player&#39;&#39;s end and for hopefully landing some or all in one or more scoring pockets or target zones.

United States Patent [191 Greaney [451 Oct. 16, 1973 GAME DEVICE HAVING PUSH-PULL CUE FOR HOLDING PLURALITY OF PLAYING PIECES [76] Inventor: Harry D. Greaney, 68 Merrick Ave.,

Holyoke, Mass. 01040 [22] Filed: June 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 258,989

[52] U.S. Cl 273/119 R [51] Int. Cl A63d 3/02 [58] Field of Search 273/85 R, 85 F, 85 H, 273/119 R, 123 R, 126 R, 127 R, 127 B, 129

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,176,367 3/1916 Jackson 273/119 R 635,059 10/1899 Pike 273/123 R 2,062,204 11/1936 Blackmore.. 273/129 681,570 8/1901 McRuer..... 273/119 R 674,848 5/1901 Stevens 273/119 R 2,217,492 10/1940 Peachey 273/129 X 3,113,776 12/1963 Romei 273/85 H 3,391,933 7/1968 Cooper 273/85 F Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-R. T. Stouffer Attorney-Harvey B. Jacobson [5 7] ABSTRACT Primarily for use by rival youngsters, a recreational and amusement game comprising a game board for indoor or outdoor use having a self-standing flat bottom and a flat top providing a smooth playing surface. The game board is marginally encompassed by a securely fixed rim having portions rising above the playing surface and designed to provide the outer bounds of the playing surface and resembling the disc sliding surface of a shuffle board. The rim embodies transverse end walls and interconnecting longitudinal side walls. A median area of the playing surface is provided with circular target zones, preferably shallow pockets. One set of playing pieces for a player operating from one transverse end comprises four colored marbles. A second but differently colored set of playing pieces or marbles constitutes the set for the competitive player at the other transverse end. Each player has a pushpull cue having a handle provided at the forward end with a fork having a straight across bight portion with legs extending therefrom which constitutes a shuffle cue head for simultaneously grouping and pushing the marbles for scattering in a direction toward the opposite players end and for hopefully landing some or all in one or more scoring pockets or target zones.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures GAME DEVICE HAVING PUSH-PULL CUE FOR HOLDING PLURALITY OF PLAYING PIECES The present invention relates to portable table-type game devices for recreational amusement primarily for youngsters who enjoy easy-to-understand amiable rivalry and pastime and are fond of impressing their elders by calling attention to their self-acclaimed skills and pertains, more particularly, to a simple, practical and economical rim-equipped game board having centrallized pockets into which propelled marbles are temporarily lodged for competitive scoring purposes.

The game device herein disclosed is comparably similar, very broadly stated, to the game of shuffleboard in that it is characterized by headed cues which are such in construction and adaptability as to initially nest or group a plurality of rollable playing pieces such as colored marblesThe thus grouped set of marbles is thrust forward in such a manner as the user sees fit while the player or rival at the other end of the board ejects and propels his marbles simultaneously. The sets or groups of marbles scatter and strike each other and, depending on the skill acquired by the players, certain of the marbles land in circular cutouts or pockets provided therefor, each captive marble being counted as one. When the established score is attained the winner between the two rivals can be and is declared.

Persons conversant with the state of the art to which the invention relates and who have a knowledge of background table-type playing boards are aware that it is not new to provide a marginally rimmed portable playing board and a playing field marked in one of many ways for coaction with receptive movable playing pieces and, in so doing, to establish many and varied rules for scoring points.

An object of this invention is to employ simple and practical push-pull marble or ball ejecting and propelling implements. To the ends desired each transverse end wall has a keeper notch, that is, a notch which serves to temporarily hold and guide the suitably aimed head and handle. In carrying out the principles of the invention holes are provided in the median portion and these holes constitute marble trapping and temporary retaining and scoring pockets. Of significance is the fact that the yoke-like head on each push-pull implement or cue functions to group a plurality of marbles so that once the implement is projected the marbles are simultaneously propelled for scattering, colliding and scoring purposes.

Briefly, the concept has to do with an innovation for recreational and amusement purposes for youngsters who are fascinated with competitive ball and similar scoring games. The propelled or ejected marbles will clash together, scatter in diverse directions and one or more will enter a hole or pocket and count for one point. Fifteen points will be the object of the game. The transverse walls are provided with keeper notches for slidably and movably seating the handles of the respective push-pull cues. The playing surface of the game board is smooth and may be covered or not but is preferably provided at its center with opposite circular holes of corresponding diameter. These holes constitute marble or ball receiving and scoring targets or pockets. Of significance is the yoke-like or elongated U-shaped head on each implement which functions to collect and project four more or less marbles at the same time for projecting, scattering and scoring activities.

hereinafter described and claimedfreference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a game device constructed in accordance with the invention and showing all the component parts and the manner in which the cue-like or push-pull implements are used for projecting and point scoring purposes;

FIG. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the indicating arrows; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the aforementioned manually utilizable implements or cues.

The aforementioned portable table-type game board, which lends itself to use indoors or outdoors, is made of appropriate material, for example wood or plastic. It is light in weight and comprises a suitably painted or colored rectangular panel 6 whose playing surface is planar or flat and is denoted by the numeral 8. The central or median portion of this panel which is denoted generally at 10 is provided with two like target holes 12 which open through the top and bottom surfaces as is evident from FIG. 2. These holes serve to pocket one or more of the playing pieces. In the instant situation the playing pieces are simple colorful marbles of like weight and diameter. The marbles or balls at the right are denoted by the numeral 14 in FIG. 1 and those at the left are denoted at 16. In actual practice the marbles 14 can be colored yellow while the marbles 16 can be, if desired, some other color, for example blue. The entire marginal edge of the game board is encompassed or surrounded by a rim which is denoted generally by the numeral 18 in FIG. 1. The rim comprises longitudinal side rails or walls 20 and transverse cooperating and connecting rim walls 22 (the one at the left) and 24 (the one at the right) in FIG. 1. It will be observed that the principal portions of the upstanding walls project alimited degree or distance above the surface 8. It will also be noted that the marbles are of a diameter slightly greater than the height of the encompassing rim walls. This is also particularly noticeable in that the thickness of the panel is such that the holes which serve as the pockets 12 provide pockets which are of a considerably less depth than the diameter of the scoring marbles. It will be further noted that the median or intermediate portion of each transverse end wall is provided with an upwardly opening notch which constitutes a keeper seat, the one at the left being denoted at 26 and the one at the right by the numeral 28.

The push-pull implements herein designated as individually usable cues are basically the same in construction and a description of one will suffice for both. One cue at the left is denoted by the numeral 30 while the other one at the right is denoted by the numeral 32. Each cue as shown in FIG. 3 comprises an elongated rigid non-circular handle of appropriate cross-sectional dimension and length and is denoted by the numeral 34. The end portion 36 is joined to a central part of the bight portion 38 of the substantially U-shaped yoke which constitutes the head of the cue. The legs or arms are denoted at 40. This type of a head is such that each straddles all four of the collected marbles. Also the bight portion 38 being non-circular rests firmly against the interior flat surface of the end wall 22 or 24 with which it cooperates. The handle is seated in the keeper notch when the play starts. It follows that in playing the game the rival participants stand at the respective transverse ends of the game board and the respective groups or sets of marbles or playing pieces are racked up in the readied cues. According to the rules for playing the game it will be obvious that the marbles are intended to clash together and scatter in many or various directions. Each marble which enters the target or pocket counts for one point and fifteen points will be the object of the game. In starting the game both participants or players grasp the handles of their respective cues and at the word Go both players push. the handle forward toward the center of the game board. It follows as before suggested that the scattering and moving marbles collide and scatter in a somewhat indeterminate manner in the hopes that one or more marbles will land and retain itself temporarily pocketed in the target hole.

Although the game and its component parts are categorized as simple it will be nevertheless obvious that interest will abound if the players are of a competitive nature and assume that success in any competitive attention getting table game is frequently the aim of the game and that praise from their elder scorekeepers results in fun, amusement and the learning of skills.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A recreational and amusement game primarily for use by rival youngsters comprising a portable game board having a self-standing flat bottom, a flat top providing a playing surface, said game board being provided with and marginally encompassed by a securely ,mounted rim having upstanding portions rising above the playing surface and designed and adapted to provide the outer bounds of a playing surface resembling the disc sliding surface of a conventional-type shuffleboard, said rim having transverse end members and interconnecting longitudinal side members, a median area of said playing surface having target zones, one set of playing pieces for a player operating from one transverse end, a second but distinguishable set of similar playing pieces by the competitive player at the other transverse end, and a push-pull cue for each player having a handle provided at a forward end with a shufflelike head for simultaneously grouping and pushing the playing pieces toward the scoring zones, said head comprising a rigid fork which is generally U-shaped in plan and is of a size to collectively encompass, removably rack, and hold a plurality of playing pieces in a substantially straight row parallel to the base of the U as well as between the legs of said U, wherein said base is substantially straight between said legs of said U.

2. The game defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said target zones comprise like holes opening through the top and bottom surfaces of said gameboard and providing collecting, temporary retaining and score tallying pockets for the playing pieces.

3. The game defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein the playing pieces comprise marbles, the marbles of one player being of one color, and the marbles of the other player being of a different color, said mar bles being of a diameter significantly greater than the depth of said pockets.

4. The game defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein a median portion of each transverse rim memher is provided with an upwardly opening notch which serves as a keeper seat and guide for the handle of the cue which can be guidingly seated in said notch to assist in stabilizing the handle and taking a reliable aim when propelling the marbles forwardly.

5. A recreational and amusement game primarily for use by rival youngsters comprising a rectangular relatively thin rigid panel providing a game board and having flat top and bottom surfaces, said panel having a median portion provided adjacent its margins and at places opposite each other with holes, said holes opening through bottom and top surfaces of the panel and constituting shallow receiving and scoring pockets for playing pieces, said game board panel being surrounded by a marginal rim and said rim having longitudinal side members and transverse end members, central portions of the respective end members having keeper notches opening through the upper edges of the members, individual push-pull shuffleboard-type cues for the players, each cue comprising a handle portion provided at a leading end with a head portion, said head portion comprising a substantially U-shaped yoke and said yoke embodying a straight across bight portion to the median portion of which the handle is connected and also embodying leg portions, said yoke being of a dimension sufficient to permit a plurality of playing pieces to be racked and confined therein between the legs of said yoke preparatory to propelling the marbles onto the playing surface, said playing pieces comprising marbles, said marbles being of a diameter greater than the depth of said receiving and scoring pockets. 

1. A recreational and amusement game primarily for use by rival youngsters comprising a portable game board having a selfstanding flat bottom, a flat top providing a playing surface, said game board being provided with and marginally encompassed by a securely mounted rim having upstanding portions rising above the playing surface and designed and adapted to provide the outer bounds of a playing surface resembling the disc sliding surface of a conventional-type shuffleboard, said rim having transverse end members and interconnecting longitudinal side members, a median area of said playing surface having target zones, one set of playing pieces for a player operating from one transverse end, a second but distinguishable set of similar playing pieces by the competitive player at the other transverse end, and a push-pull cue for each player having a handle provided at a forward end with a shuffle-like head for simultaneously grouping and pushing the playing pieces toward the scoring zones, said head comprising a rigid fork which is generally U-shaped in plan and is of a size to collectively encompass, removably rack, and hold a plurality of playing pieces in a substantially straight row parallel to the base of the U as well as between the legs of said U, wherein said base is substantially straight between said legs of said U.
 2. The game defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said target zones comprise like holes opening through the top and bottom surfaces of said gameboard and providing collecting, temporary retaining and score tallying pockets for the playing pieces.
 3. The game defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein the playing pieces comprise marbles, the marbles of one player being of one color, and the marbles of the other player being of a different color, said marbles being of a diameter significantly greater than the depth of said pockets.
 4. The game defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein a median portion of each transverse rim member is provided with an upwardly opening notch which serves as a keeper seat and guide for the handle of the cue which can be guidingly seated in said notch to assist in stabilizing the handle and taking a reliable aim when propelling the marbles forwardly.
 5. A recreational and amusement game primarily for use by rival youngsters comprising a rectangular relatively thin rigid panel providing a game board and having flat top and bottom surfaces, said panel having a median portion provided adjacent its margins and at places opposite each other with holes, said holes opening through bottom and top surfaces of the panel and constituting shallow receiving and scoring pockets for playing pieces, said game board panel being surrounded by a marginal rim and said rim having longitudinal side members and transverse end members, central portions of the respective end members having keeper notches opening through the upper edges of the members, individual push-pull shuffleboard-type cues for the players, each cue comprising a handle portion provided at a leading end with a head portion, said head portion comprising a substantially U-shaped yoke and said yoke embodying a straight across bight portion to the median portion of which the handle is connected and also embodying leg portions, said yoke being of a dimension sufficient to permit a plurality of playing pieces to be racked and confined therein between the legs of said yoke preparatory to propelling the marbles onto the playing surface, said playing pieces comprising marbles, said marbles being of a diameter greater than the depth of said receiving and scoring pockets. 